§ 36. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Minister of Health whether he will send a memorandum to all local authorities calling attention to the fact that, owing to the necessity of increased expenditure for the defence of the country and of maintaining the principles of liberty and freedom, it is impossible, in these circumstances, to increase expenditure of any kind, and, while maintaining social services as efficiently as possible, to economise even to the extent of rescinding decisions already taken where the work, if not of vital importance, has not yet been put in hand?
§ Mr. ElliotI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 9th May. I do not contemplate the issue of a memorandum, as suggested, to local authorities.
§ Sir W. SmithersMay I take it that the right hon. Gentleman will do all in his power to implement the policy laid down by the Chancellor in his Budget speech, that no major addition to internal expenditure is, in the present circumstances, possible?
§ Mr. ElliotThere is a close relationship between my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself.
§ Mr. Wedgwood BennHow long will it be before the Government have to yield to the pressure from their back benchers to make them reduce the social services?